The Feasibility of Home-Based Measurement of Circadian Timing for Veterans With TBI and Insomnia

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Dec 16, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Background and Significance:

Insomnia is a pervasive problem among Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Veterans with TBI frequently experience sleep disturbances following their injury. Insomnia, an impairing disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, is the most common sleep disturbance reported following TBI. Indeed, Veterans with TBI are 50% more likely to develop future insomnia compared to their non-injured peers.

The development of insomnia following TBI can delay recovery and contribute to functional impairments. Compared to TBI patients with norm...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Veterans
• • History of traumatic brain injury
• • Current insomnia
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Alcohol or substance abuse in the past 12 months
• • History of psychotic or bipolar disorders
• • Currently using of beta-blockers or melatonin-related substances (including over-the-counter or herbal products)
• • Currently participating in a sleep-targeted psychotherapy
• • Transmeridian travel (i.e., change in at least 2 time zones) in the past month
• • Shift work (i.e., at least 6 hours between 10 pm and 8 am) in the past 6 months
• • Currently pregnant or lactating
• • Current untreated sleep apnea
• • Lack of access to a home freezer
• • Blindness
• • Inability to independently provide informed consent